Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

Emerging Artist Interviews: Natalie Gelman

Submitted by singer/songwriter Natalie Gelman. You can catch this talented acoustic musician on her US tour between now and April! For more information and to listen to her music, please visit: myspace.com/nataliegelman.

1. What was the first record/cassette/CD that you owned and how did it change you? My first CD was Like A Prayer by Madonna. I don't think it it effected my music, but it was a ton of fun to dance around to when I was 8 years old. 2. If you could pick any musician's brain over a beer, who would it be? Patty Griffin! I would love to talk to her about songwriting and inspiration. If I was going to talk business then I would talk to Trent Reznor. I know it's out of my musical realm, but he's creative and thinks outside of the box. 3. Name your dream tour: up to 5 bands, dead or alive. Patty Griffin, Sheryl Crow, U2, The Beatles and Carol King. 4. How would it feel to play with your favorite band? I would probably be pretty excited and nervous before the show, but to sing with Patty Griffin would be amazing. She puts a lot of passion in her songs. When I see her live it seems to get the whole band excited and connected. 5. What's the funniest moment your band has ever experienced? I used to play in Miami where I was going to school. We were practicing outside of this pizza place and this giant Miami water bug crawled across my foot. I was pretty freaked out, but we were so exhilarated for our first show as a band. I blew it off, but a few minutes later it crawled across my foot again(did I mention I was in flip-flops). I jumped onto my bass player with my guitar still on clinging for dear life and the rest of the band start laughing at me. 6. ...the craziest/most bizarre? I did do a rollerblading tour up the East Coast from Miami, Fl to NYC, NY. You see and learn a lot on your feet for 1500 miles! 7. Who are you musically influenced by that no one would ever guess by listening to your music? Leonard Bernstein. I think he was a great composer. I love his work for both choirs, solo performers and musicals. He used a lot of contemporary elements while still keeping his music approachable and listenable. 8. If someone invested a million dollars into your band, how would you use the money? I am really overdue for a new record so that is the first thing! After that I would love to try some unique promo methods and do something outside of what people have come to expect. 9. How do you feel being on stage when the audience is having an amazing time? That's the whole point! Live performing is my favorite thing to do and there is no place I would rather be then performing on stage. 10. Name the place you'd most like to play a show, anywhere in the world. I really can't wait to tour Europe, but it would also be incredible to play on the Rock Boat. 11. What's the most memorable musicial moment of your life? When I first started performing I took my guitar with me on a spring break cruise. Every night, my friend and I would sing in the karoke bar. Half way through the cruise the host asked me if I would perform in a talent show the next day. I said yes, but only if I could sing one of my own songs. I performed one of my original songs and everyone who was there, all 1200 people gave me a standing ovation. It was definitely a pivotal moment that affirmed that making music is what I should be doing. It also helps that people were asking for an autograph the last two days of the cruise! ;) 12. Tell us a situation where another band really helped you out. When I first started writing I performed in a talent show at my college called UM Idol. I had a pretty good sound check, but was really thrown off when it came to the show and was trying to hit notes that I shouldn't have been. Needless to say, I didn't make the finals, but afterward, one of the other performers(Allan Douglas) encouraged me to keep writing. Now they are one of my favorite co-writers and if it wasn't for him, I am not sure if I would be still writing. 13. What moment has made all of the hard work being a musician worth it? Every time I am on stage and I see people really enjoying the show or someone comes up after a show and tells me how much they loved a song or it moved them. It takes a lot of courage to keep putting yourself out there as an independent artist and without fans that connect with what I'm doing, there would be no reason to push as hard as I do. 14. If your band was a comic, what would each member's super power be? The power to instantly change strings and tune a guitar with my eyes...including the guitars of bands that I am watching!